Mark Price Pickleball Dinking Strategy: Professional pickleball coach Mark Price is leading a training series designed to help players improve their dinking strategy. In the sessions, Mark Price shows how to turn common weaknesses into winning techniques using six key types of dinks. His coaching focuses on body movement, paddle control, and court position.
Dinking Is About Pressure, Not Just Soft Shots
According to Mark Price, dinking isn’t just about playing slow. It’s about moving opponents and creating chances to win the point.
“We’re not just trying to play soft and hit more rallies. We’re trying to move the player, create opportunities for pop-ups, errors, and creating space.
The purpose for dinking is to put pressure on the opponents, to move them on the court, to create space to attack, to create an error or a pop-up.”
He explains that players need to think about how their dinks affect the other team. Well-placed dinks can force errors or open space for a stronger shot.
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Six Types of Dinks to Learn and Practice
Mark Price breaks dinking into six styles. Each one has its own use and technique:
1. Lift
This soft dink helps players buy time to move out of the kitchen area. When the ball rolls over the net and lands shallow, many players hit it hard and lose the point. Instead, Mark Price advises:
“A lift is what you do. So moving quick, lift the ball softly so you’ve got time to get back out the kitchen.”
2. Push
In this dink, players guide the ball with a lower shot aimed at the opponent’s feet. Mark Price uses it to apply pressure:
“I’m going to push and get the ball close to his feet. I’m adding a little bit of top spin and trying to get that ball close to the line or close to his feet.”
3. Reset Dink
When someone pushes a dink toward you, don’t try to push back. Use a soft touch to slow the game and defend:
“So if I receive a push dink from Mike, I’m going to defend with a half volley or a reset dink. I’m not trying to outdo his shot. He hit a great shot.”
4. Reset Volley
If the ball is fast and low near the knees, players can’t back away. Instead, they should block it with a soft volley:
“If I swing on this volley, it’s going to pop up high… I’m going to literally put my paddle out, let it hit the paddle face so there’s no movement.”
5. Slice
This backspin shot requires an open paddle face and shoulder movement:
“We’re just going to hinge from my shoulder and come through the ball smooth with an open face. And this open face will create backspin.”
6. Topspin
This shot involves brushing up the back of the ball to create forward spin:
“Even though it’s aggressive, it’s not hard. We’re controlling it and adding spin… The spin adds the problem.”
Key to Success: Early Paddle Prep
Mark Price highlights the need for quick preparation before every shot. Good players get their paddle into the right position before the ball bounces. Whether it’s for a slice, reset, or topspin, the key is getting ready early:
“So, my paddle head position has to be ready before every stroke.”
By practicing these six styles, players can become more skilled and smarter on the court.
News in Brief: Mark Price Pickleball Dinking Strategy
Pickleball coach Mark Price teaches six dinking styles to help players improve their strategy. These include lift, push, reset dink, reset volley, slice, and topspin. The focus is on movement, control, and early paddle prep. His lessons aim to turn weak points into smart, winning plays.
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